apologiA

Hi. I'm a husband, father and grandfather who is also a Catholic apologist, teacher, speaker and author. Oh, forgot to mention hack classical guitarist.

Since converting from Protestantism to Catholicism in 1996, I've appeared a number of times on Catholic radio and television and have been invited to speak at Catholic parishes and conferences throughout the country on subjects ranging from apologetics to scripture, theology, church history and spirituality. For years I was a regular speaker at the National Catholic Family Conference in Anaheim, California. I came to faith in Christ at the age of 22 in an evangelical, non-denominational Protestant environment. My passion to understand, teach and defend the Christian worldview was immediate and led me over time to earn a bachelors degree in bible and theology and then a Master of Arts degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California in 1983. I enrolled in a doctoral program at Claremont Graduate School, intending at the time to pursue a career as a professor. But while taking (I imagined!) a "short break" from my studies to focus on supporting my family, I was asked to serve as associate pastor of the First Baptist Church of Riverside, California. I was there more than three years before being invited in 1989 to become the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Montrose, California, where I served for another eight years. Never made it back to school. In the spring of 1993, I learned that a good friend from my seminary days, Scott Hahn, had converted to the Catholic faith. A parishioner gave me his conversion story. I listened (wearing headphones so that my wife Tina wouldn't know) and contacted Scott the next morning. Here in essence is the conversation that took place that day: "Scott, what in the world?" "Ken, I don't know where to start, but if I sent you more information, would you look at it?" "Sure, I suppose I'm willing to listen..."To shorten a very long and involved story, a conversation was begun that day that led to more than three years of what amounted to an intensive and thorough rethinking of my entire worldview as a Christian in the light of scripture and church history. A million hours of reading, thinking, praying, listening, talking. In September of 1996, I resigned my pastoral ministry and at Easter Vigil 1997 was received into the Catholic Church with my wife, Tina. Since leaving the Protestant ministry I've enjoyed an illustrious career waiting tables, working as a headhunter in the biotech world and then as a stock broker for an investment firm. But my love and passion has always been that of explaining and defending the truth of the Catholic-Christian worldview. In 2010, I co-authored The Godless Delusion: A Catholic Challenge to Modern Atheism, with Patrick Madrid. Fr. Ronald Tacelli, S.J., professor of philosophy at Boston College and co-author of the Handbook of Catholic Apologetics, described our book as "A full-scale frontal assault on the New Atheist’s stronghold… With remorseless logic, wit, skill, and boundless, joyful enthusiasm, The Godless Delusion lays waste that stronghold, routs the enemy, occupies the high ground for Christ the king, and dares anyone to retake it." Philosopher Edward Feser, author of a great book The Last Superstition: A Refutation of the New Atheism, wrote: "The Godless Delusion is a clear and compelling critique of naturalism and the 'new atheism' that rests upon it. Madrid and Hensley show that the secularist's pose of moral and rational superiority is undermined by his own fundamental assumptions."

Recently, I've been working with Patrick Madrid and Dr. Peter Kreeft, presenting intensive weekend "Apologetics Academy" events in cities around the country. Going to Boston next week!I live in Fillmore, California with my wife, Tina. We have two children and five grandchildren---who (pure joy) live one mile from us.

Endorsements:

I want to recommend my good friend, Ken Hensley, who is a very effective speaker on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from Scripture and Apologetics to Church History and the New Atheism... Ken is an expert pastor, with a pastor's heart, who can make the Bible come alive. I'm looking forward to more of his teaching in the future.

-- Scott Hahn, Professor of Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville

Having worked in the field of Catholic apologetics for nearly 30 years, I’ve been privileged to know and collaborate with many talented, inspirational, and effective teachers of the Faith. It’s no exaggeration to say that my friend Ken Hensley is among the very best of the best of the Catholic apologists serving Christ and His Church today. Ken has a wide and deep knowledge of Scripture, Church history, and theology, he is personable and approachable, and he invariably makes a compelling case for truth with charity and aplomb.

— Patrick Madrid,host of the “Right Here, Right Now” radio show, author of Why Be Catholic?

Ken Hensley is a truly remarkable apologist, especially when it comes to Sacred Scripture, Reformation history, and taking complex theological issues and making them accessible to the average Catholic in the pew.

Ken Hensley's ability to impact an audience is truly a gift. He teaches the truth in a way that would draw the 'unreached' to the truth and beauty of Catholicism, and conveys meaty content in a way that's accessible to everyone. He doesn't just deliver a talk. He forms the listener. He's been hidden for too long, and I'm excited for the blessing that's about to sweep across the Church in Ken's ministry!

-- Chris Stefanick, President of Real LIfe Catholic

As an apologist, Ken Hensley has three secret qualities that, thankfully, aren't so secret anymore: he's an exceptionally engaging teacher who brings to the craft his own curiosity and love of the subject; he knows how to distill deep content for the average person; and he's evangelically Catholic. And did I mention his relentlessly off-beat sense of humor?